Ian Sherwood

“Everywhere To Go” is Sherwood’s latest studio creation. The album is considered to be his best to date and is chalk-full of instantly appealing hooks and singable choruses while sitting comfortably in Sherwood’s signature style of imaginative, narrative writing.

Sherwood is a musician, story teller and a constant creator. He has penned tunes for many other artists as well as for theatre, film and television. He was named Contemporary Singer of the Year by the 2013 Canadian Folk Music Awards, Best Male Artist of the Year by the 2012 International Acoustic Music Awards and was the 2008 and 2010 Music Nova Scotia Musician Of The Year. Bob Mersereau of CBC Radio, Fredericton described him as “… a natural performer who entertains as much with his wit and stories as with his songs.”

Starting his music career as an in-demand saxophone player in Toronto, Sherwood soon began looking for an outlet for his poetic side. His unique musicianship combined with his tales of heartbreak, victory and adventure quickly gained recognition as a solid performer, lyricist and player. This lead to a nomination for the 2011 ECMA award for Male Solo Artist Recording of the Year.

Dean Batstone

A veteran of the Canadian Music scene, having performed full time across Canada and The US for over 30 years, Dean Batstone has been based in New York state since 2007. A charismatic live performer who works solo or with a band, he has recorded 11 full length albums with some of the most iconic musicians in America.His most recent double release of 2 CD’s, ‘Unbroken’ and ‘Broken’, is witness to his prolific nature and measurable talent.

He has been covered by, or has co-written with, numerous artists and has received high praise from the industry, his peers and the press. His song ‘Love Don’t Happen Every Time’ from his earlier release ‘Lonely In America’, chosen by the learned panel for 2014’s International Songwriting Contest finalists in the A/C category, simultaneously charted on the US A/C Pop Independent radio charts at number 37, after entering the charts at #144, while Dean also charted with a song he co-wrote and produced for New York singer Lucy Bonilla, which recently peaked at #24 on the same charts.

Ontario born Stevie Jewel is Katy Perry meets Country with a twist of Southern Rock.Multi award winning and Grammy nominated before she turned 20, STEVIE has performed at The White House, Canadian Country Music Awards, and all over the U.S. to great acclaim.

A graduate of The Royal Conservatory in Canada, Las Vegas Academy for the Performing Arts and the Atlanta Music Academy, STEVIE’s powerful storytelling and stunning vocal presence highlight her unique artistic identity which connects her to her audience across the globe. STEVIE’s single “MEMORY LANE” scored extensive airplay on CBC Radio in Jewel’s homeland of Canada in late 2015.

Currently based in Nashville, Tennessee, STEVIE is finishing her last year at Nashville’s premier music school, BELMONT UNIVERSITY ( BRAD PAISLEY, FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE are Alums)

She is collaborating with Nashville’s A-listers like Country Hall of Famer Tom Douglas (LADY ANTEBELLUM, TIM MCGRAW), and Pop writer/ producers JODI MARR ( CAROLE KING, RICKY MARTIN) and Will Edwards ( Dexter, Burn Notice, The Sopranos.) on a new collection of songs and looking forward to a for Summer 2016 tour.

Born on Vancouver Island, the youngest of three boys, North started writing songs as an escape from his older brothers with his mother (his inspiration) forbidding the older boys to pick on him when he practiced piano. It’s no surprise that North traded great grades for blisters and early music accomplishments - Winner of 106.9 The Bear’s Rock Search; $100,000 in NEWCAP Radio’s Big Money Shot; Indie Pop Album of The Year with his band Garrity; Winner of Song of the Year.com for best country song; International Songwriting Competition 2014 Semi Finalist (TURN) and 2015 Finalist (LOVE LIKE THAT). North’s songs have also been featured in independent films and placed in US syndicated television.

North is a massive participant and contributor to the future of the song-writing community as Ottawa Co-ordinator for the Songwriter’s Association of Canada (SAC); Founding member and one of 8 prominent songwriters in The Collabor8tors a Canadian song-writing initiative; Ottawa Curator for The Acoustic Guitar Project, a global song-writing initiative. His dedication to inspiring and developing songs and careers for established & emerging artists is tireless.

North Easton is an accomplished performer and award-winning Canadian songwriter with an aptitude for writing evocative, thought-provoking lyrics and melodies. This, coupled with his powerful, heartfelt vocals, delivers a listening and visual experience that is uniquely North Easton. On October 15, 2016 North released his first solo album “One of the Lucky Ones” to an enthusiastic full house in Ottawa. As his first single “Change” builds momentum on AC radio, North looks to the road and to performing at festivals and eclectic venues across the country - all the while, igniting his audiences along the path.

Dean Batstone hosts the Songwriter’s Showcase welcoming special guests Taylor Angus for an evening of songs and stories October 6, at 8 pm. Doors open at 7 pm.

The first thing that grabs you is the voice.

Crisp yet emotive and utterly indifferent to gravity, it glides then soars over a deceptively simple foundation of guitar and piano alternately conjuring jazzy pop and poppy jazz with a smidge of folk that’s utterly unlike anything you’ve heard before but something you instantly want to hear again.

his is the music of Taylor Angus, the fast-emerging duo featuring namesake singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Taylor Angus and her partner, guitarist/songwriter Logan Brown.

Together, the pair - by their reckoning, spiritual cousins to Buckingham Nicks but musically closer to Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass – crafts original songs so unique yet accessible that their brilliant new six-track EP, Sympathy For You, can be viewed as both an artistic statement and a statement of intent.

World domination is in the crosshairs for the Kingston/Ottawa-based musicians, a point corroborated by their dazzling 2016 debut

First Light of Dawn which electrified music fans, radio programmers and even British synth-pop star Howard Jones, who invited them on tour.

Proudly Sponsored By:

Dean Batstone hosts the Songwriter’s Showcase welcoming Kate Weekes for an evening of songs and stories October 14, at 8 pm. Doors open at 7 pm.

Northern wilderness adventurer Kate Weekes captures the landscape of her travels in song. Life as a dog musher influenced her Yukon album ‘Frost on Black Fur’ (2014) and a body of new work composed during the winter of 2017 above the arctic circle on a Norwegian fjord. Kate’s live performance is laden with candid stories of beatnik travel and time in the bush.

Tickets $30 in Advance and $35 at the Door

As the unofficial poet laureate of Canadian blues, Paul Reddick’s words are his weapon of choice, described by British magazine Mojo as his “wayward brilliance.” The innovative Paul Reddick & The Sidemen formed in Toronto in 1990 and developed a cult-like following. Together they released four albums, two of which were JUNO Award nominated and in 2002 their ground breaking release Rattlebag won three Maple Blues Awards including “Electric Act of the Year,” “Songwriter of the Year” and “Album of the Year” and was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award in the U.S. One of the tracks from Rattlebag, the gritty “I’m A Criminal” was used in the popular Coca-Cola “Sip Stealing” television commercial that aired during the Superbowl. Reddick continued to re-work blues traditions on his solo recordings: Villanelle (2004); Sugarbird (2009), which earned Reddick a Maple Blues Award for “Songwriter of the Year”; and Wishbone (2012). Reddick is also the creator and benefactor of The Cobalt Prize for Contemporary Blues Composition, awarded annually at the Maple Blues Awards.

Dean Batstone hosts the Songwriter’s Showcase welcoming Low Country Hill (Paul Hogeterp) and Bruce Enloe for an evening of songs and stories September 22, at 8 pm. Doors open at 7 pm.

Low Country Hill is the moniker for Hamilton-based singer-songwriter Paul Hogeterp. In 2014 he released his self-titled, critically-acclaimed debut. Recorded by Dave King at a century barn on the outskirts of Hamilton, the album came together with the help of musical family and friends as well as seasoned luminaries Pat Sansone (Wilco) and Bill Dillon (Joni Mitchell, Peter Gabriel). One reviewer suggested Low Country Hill “evokes comparisons to such stalwarts as Hey Rosetta and Bon Iver, but yet really doesn’t sound particularly like either. The tracks stand on their own as testaments to superlative songwriting and an album produced to showcase haunting, beautiful music (Floorshime Zipper Boots).”

Touring has taken Paul down logging roads in northern Ontario and through traffic jams on the Lionsgate Bridge in Vancouver - all for the joy of sharing the songs in intimate venues with music lovers. After nearly two years of performing, he burrowed in his basement studio for the last half of 2016 to write for his next record. The result of that effort is Guesthouse, a five-song EP recorded in May-July of this year. Dave King returns as producer and drummer while musical wizard Paul Linklater (Bidini Band, Colleen and Paul) plays bass and electric guitar for the project. Hogeterp is feeling blessed and lucky to have the (gentle giant) footprints of these creative and kindred spirits in his new work.

Bruce Enloe is a singer –songwriter performing original songs that are equal parts folk, Americana and Beatle influenced pop. Bruce was born and raised in Bryan-College Station, Texas; the town where Lyle Lovett met Robert Earl Keen. He has since added California, Europe and Canada to his list of both musical influences and travels. After several years fronting the Burning Sensations, Kemptville Ontario’s largest band, he is now recording his third album and striking out on his own for a series of listening room style acoustic shows.

Proudly Sponsored By:

Dean Batstone hosts the Songwriter’s Showcase welcoming Michael Biggar for an evening of songs and stories September 16, at 8 pm. Doors open at 7 pm.

Described as a definitive live performer, multi award-winning singer-songwriter Mike Biggar is known for his intense, roiling live performance, signature soaring vocals and disarming on-stage humour. His songs have earned him affection from listeners and accolades from industry. And with the release of his third full-length album GO ALL IN on Busted Flat Records (03/10/2017), Biggar offers a fresh helping of his song writing prowess that has twice earned him Music New Brunswick Awards (2011, 2014), an East Coast Music Award (2012) and numerous other nominations and acclaim.

GO ALL IN is a roots music evolution for Biggar, achieved by connecting more deeply than ever with his own musical history. Both sonically and in substance, he pays particular attention to his childhood roots in gospel music and the cultural influences of his life on the East Coast. The result is a delightfully eclectic offering that comprises a compelling representation of Biggar's musical lineage.

Proudly Sponsored By:

Dean Batstone hosts the Songwriter’s Showcase welcoming Lindsay Fergusong for an evening of songs and stories September 15, at 8 pm. Doors open at 7 pm.

Entering her tenth year as a full-time musician, Lindsay spends her time between Canada and Switzerland, playing various venues, festivals and more! With the release of her first record "Sound." in 2007 she garnered much attention, going on to win an award for Ottawa’s “Best New Artist” of 2008, a Canada Council for the Arts Songwriting Grant in 2009 and enough money in 2010 through NewCap Radio’s “The Big Money Shot” to record her second full-length album “Monkeys Under Stars” released in June 2011. Lindsay was voted "Best Singer & Songwriter" in Wakefield Quebec in 2012 and her song "Lose My Grip" was nominated for the Colleen Peterson Song-Writing award 2012 as well as placing her as an International Finalist for the NewSong Music Contest also in 2012.

Lindsay has experienced a lot on this musical journey, from touring records across Canada a few times to having tea with Bono, from being the hired Songstress on a seven day white-water rafting trip in The Canadian Rockies to sharing the stage with Tegan & Sara, Steve Earle, Kathleen Edwards and other musical greats like Ron Hynes.

Proudly Sponsored By:

Following the philosophy of the venue, The Northern Ramble open stage is focused on the encouragement and forwarding of the art and joy of songwriting. Offering a professional listening room environment to songwriter’s of all levels - beginner to veteran - to expose their unique creativity to a live crowd and enjoy the atmosphere of encouragement, mentoring and feedback from peers and music lovers alike.

If you’d like to ensure a place on the stage, email us at dean@northernramble.com in advance of the Thursday on which you’d like to perform, and we’ll add your name to the list for that evening. You can also sign up on the evening of, but preference will be given to those who offer advance notice via email. Each performer will be asked to keep their performance to 1-3 songs [no covers]. The venue will limit the evening to approximately 2 hours shows [approx. 6 performers/evening], with some flexibility according to turn out etc.

Whether you’ve just written your first songs or are a seasoned veteran looking for an ideal venue to try your latest inspirations, this stage will welcome you!

SOUNDCHECK WITH MEGA MIKE & DR DAVE

In Association with Cogeco TV

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11TH, DOORS 7 PM - MUSIC 8 PM

LIVE from Batstone's Northern Ramble...which is a Monthly LIVE Online Radio (www.rbxradio.com) Broadcast Event held on the 2nd Monday of Every Month...

Episode 5

A power-house folk-noir and pop songwriter with a one of a kind voice. A voice that can stop you dead in your tracks. It’s a towering instrument: raw and soulfully weathered, yet capable of precise runs and pitch-perfect delicacy. Her singing is at the center of her first album, Little Ghosts. Expect her new EP, out this summer, to explore the push-pull between staying put and an inherent, all-consuming wanderlust.

Tickets $20 in advance and $25 at the door

With 9 albums and a swag of accolades to his name, Australian Lloyd Spiegel has toured the globe for the past 20 years performing at major festivals and iconic Juke Joints as well as supporting the likes of Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, and Etta James. He has sat with the founding fathers of modern blues from Brownie McGhee to Luther Allison.

Spiegel’s unique history, command of the guitar and powerful stage presence put him at the cutting edge of Australian Blues. He was in Canada in 2016 promoting his album “Double Live Set” which won 4 Australian Blues music awards. He returns this year to celebrate his newest release “This Time Tomorrow”.

ACCOLADES

2016 Australian Blues Awards - Album of the Year2016 Australian Blues Awards - Song of the Year2016 Australian Blues Awards - Artist of the Year2016 Australian Blues Awards - Producer of the Year2015 Victoria/Tasmania Blues Awards - Solo/Duo of the Year2015 Victoria/Tasmania Blues Awards - Song of the Year2015 Victoria/Tasmania Blues Awards - Album of the Year

“Spiegel has stamped himself as one of the best songwriters in the country, regardless of genre, of history, of ANYTHING. It’s a powerhouse of brutal honesty.” – Rhythms Magazine

“Australian blues and roots icon Lloyd Spiegel, in his first Bluesfest appearance, holds his own full house in the palm of his hand, just him and his trusty Cole Clark, a full swag of songs, a full tote of stories told with humour and aplomb, the man able to make his guitar do anything at all as he tells tales both tall and true, his own superbly written material marrying with blues standards in a way few others are able to manage. The man is a mountain, he’ll surely be back.” – Rolling Stone Magazine

Julie Corrigan

Born and raised in the Ottawa Valley, Julie Corrigan is a soulful, country, roots, singer/songwriter hailing from the small town of Shawville Quebec. Her first full-length album The Language, recorded in Ottawa at Little Bullhorn Studios with producer Dave Draves topped the charts on CKCU for 2015. Julie grew up on a farm along the Ottawa River. On The Language, Julie taps into these romantic whispers of her past, including stories of heartache, loss, tragedy, and a longing for going home. Armed with a unique voice and a strong passion for live performance Julie hopes to shine that light a little brighter for anyone who will listen.

Released on September 30, 2016, Perish In The Light, the stunning new album by Ottawa Valley-based Trevor Alguire has received extensive airplay and great reviews around the world, with some praising this album as one of the finest roots releases of 2016.

Perish In The Light marks Trevor Alguire’s 6th album bringing with it a maturity in songwriting seldom seen and rarely captured by only a select few of this country’s most prolific well-travelled veteran songwriters. Alguire draws from over a decade of touring across North America and Europe.

Drop a needle on this album and dim the lights down low, and sit back as your mind travels through time with thoughts of past loves, lives lost and new hope found. Alguire has a story to tell, and with over 70 songs recorded in only a decade, this old soul travels through this world passionately sharing these stories with everyone he meets. All the while gathering and documenting these special moments and conversations while continuing his heartfelt journey assured to leave in his wake a lifetime of precious stories told.

Trevor Alguire is no stranger to the road and spends much of his time playing tour dates across Canada and beyond, winning over fans one live show at a time. He's shared stages with Tom Cochrane, Jimmy Rankin, Danny Michel, Romi Mayes, and Martha Wainwright.

Following the philosophy of the venue, The Northern Ramble open stage is focused on the encouragement and forwarding of the art and joy of songwriting. Offering a professional listening room environment to songwriter’s of all levels - beginner to veteran - to expose their unique creativity to a live crowd and enjoy the atmosphere of encouragement, mentoring and feedback from peers and music lovers alike.

If you’d like to ensure a place on the stage, email us at dean@northernramble.com in advance of the Thursday on which you’d like to perform, and we’ll add your name to the list for that evening. You can also sign up on the evening of, but preference will be given to those who offer advance notice via email. Each performer will be asked to keep their performance to 1-3 songs [no covers]. The venue will limit the evening to approximately 2 hours shows [approx. 6 performers/evening], with some flexibility according to turnout etc.

Whether you’ve just written your first songs or are a seasoned veteran looking for an ideal venue to try your latest inspirations, this stage will welcome you!

The Durham County Poets are a lively and soulful group, who write and perform an eclectic blend of blues, folk and rock, with tinges of country, gospel and swing tossed in for good measure.

They are five seasoned musicians, all of whom are songwriters, who work together individually and collaboratively in composing their music. Delving into a variety of styles and genres, their musical influences include a broad range of artists. From The Band to Dire Straits, Leon Redbone to James Taylor and Neil Young, they have managed to put it all together to create their own musical style. The obvious joie de vivre expressed while performing together is reflected in the good-time feel that the band creates, which has been captivating their audiences consistently since their inception 6 years ago.

Fronted by Kevin Harvey, a self-proclaimed blues crooner on lead vocals, The Durham County Poets also feature David Whyte on electric and acoustic guitars and vocals, Neil Elsmore on acoustic guitar and vocals, Carl Rufh on double bass and vocals and James Preimel on drums and percussion.

Dean Batstone hosts the Songwriter’s Showcase welcoming Tara Holloway for an evening of songs and stories August 25, at 8 pm. Doors open at 7 pm.

A power-house folk-noir and pop songwriter with a one of a kind voice. A voice that can stop you dead in your tracks. It’s a towering instrument: raw and soulfully weathered, yet capable of precise runs and pitch-perfect delicacy. Her singing is at the center of her first album, Little Ghosts. Expect her new EP, out this summer, to explore the push-pull between staying put and an inherent, all-consuming wanderlust.

Bella Cat hails from Chelsea, Qc just outside of Ottawa Ont. She found her natural raw talent at age 12 and eventually discovered her love of Blues and Soul music thanks to the help of an early vocal coach and parental support. As a young adult she decided to get busy composing her own original takes in those genre's.

After her 1st independent release (Bella Cat Corrupted) she has been compared to a unique combination of Janis Joplin meets Eartha Kit and is instantly recognizable as an original powerhouse that should be a contender on the international stage. Upon seeing her live, new Canadian producer Neal Sundet immediately decided she should be working with his old friend and award winning producer Jack Letourneau. Jack recognizing her talent, decided to put top studio musicians together for the backing tracks and even enlisted iconic drummer Clyde Stubblefield (James Brown's original drummer) to lay down some grooves. After recording with her and hearing 'Tonight is the Night for Freedom' he dubbed her "the Princess of Soul". Additionally Jack brought in 4 time Grammy award nominee Billy Branch on harmonica and back up singers Mae Cohn (Aretha Franklin) and Shay Jones (Nine Inch Nails). The result as you can hear on this new single are compelling and visceral. Timely lyrics delivered with passion and fury leave you wanting more. More is what is coming from Bella Cat! This single is just a taste of what you will hear on the Album and on this years stage at Bluesfest.

Dean Batstone hosts the Songwriter’s Showcase welcoming Rory Taillon for an evening of songs and stories August 18, at 8 pm. Doors open at 7 pm.

Rory Taillon is a songwriter who really has something to say through his music. The 28-year-old Ottawa, Ontario resident demonstrates a lyrical mastery that belies his years and shatters formulaic conventions. This is deftly matched with a powerful, bluesy musical style and his large, dominant voice sets him apart from his contemporaries. With an undeniable and palpable sense of urgency in Taillon’s music, most evident on his latest release, It’s Not Black & White – this is a visceral look at life through the eyes of the dislocated, disenfranchised and dissatisfied. Combining the best of the poetic wordsmiths of the classic rock era with the 1990s alternative rock sense of nihilism, Taillon’s songs are impassioned pleas for people to be allowed to be who they want to be.

Proudly Sponsored By:

Following the philosophy of the venue, The Northern Ramble open stage is focused on the encouragement and forwarding of the art and joy of songwriting. Offering a professional listening room environment to songwriter’s of all levels - beginner to veteran - to expose their unique creativity to a live crowd and enjoy the atmosphere of encouragement, mentoring and feedback from peers and music lovers alike.

If you’d like to ensure a place on the stage, email us at dean@northernramble.com in advance of the Thursday on which you’d like to perform, and we’ll add your name to the list for that evening. You can also sign up on the evening of, but preference will be given to those who offer advance notice via email. Each performer will be asked to keep their performance to 1-3 songs [no covers]. The venue will limit the evening to approximately 2 hours shows [approx. 6 performers/evening], with some flexibility according to turnout etc.

Whether you’ve just written your first songs or are a seasoned veteran looking for an ideal venue to try your latest inspirations, this stage will welcome you!

SOUNDCHECK WITH MEGA MIKE & DR DAVE

In Association with Cogeco TV

MONDAY AUGUST 14TH, DOORS 7 PM - MUSIC 8 PM

LIVE from Batstone's Northern Ramble...which is a Monthly LIVE Online Radio (www.rbxradio.com) Broadcast Event held on the 2nd Monday of Every Month...

Episode 004

Winner of 106.9 The Bear's Rock Search; $100,000 in NEWCAP Radio's Big Money Shot; Indie Pop Album of the Year with his band Garrity, North Easton is an accomplished performer and award-winning Canadian songwriter with an aptitude for writing evocative, thought-provoking lyrics and melodies. This, coupled with his powerful, heartfelt vocals, delivers a listening and visual experience that is uniquely North Easton. North released his first solo album “One of the Lucky Ones” to an enthusiastic full house in Ottawa. As his first single “Change” builds momentum on AC radio, North looks to the road and to performing at festivals and eclectic venues across the country - all the while, igniting his audiences along the path.

Batstone's Northern Ramble Concerts presents a show you won't want to miss!

Tickets $40 in advance and $45 at the door - Doors 7pm, music 8pm.

Harry Manx is a Canadian musician who blends blues, folk music, and Hindustani classical music. His website describes his music as being a "blend Indian folk melodies with slide guitar blues, add a sprinkle of gospel and some compelling grooves and you'll get Manx's unique "mysticssippi" flavour." Manx plays the slide guitar, harmonica, six-string banjo, mohan veena and Ellis stomp box. He studied for five years in India with Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. Bhatt is the inventor of the 20-stringed mohan veena, which has become Manx's signature instrument. He has released twelve albums in twelve years, and has his own record label "Dog My Cats Records". He has received much recognition and many awards, including: seven Maple Blues Awards, six Juno nominations, the Canadian Folk Music Award in 2005 for Best Solo Artist, and CBC Radio’s “Great Canadian Blues Award” in 2007

Following the philosophy of the venue, The Northern Ramble open stage is focused on the encouragement and forwarding of the art and joy of songwriting. Offering a professional listening room environment to songwriter’s of all levels - beginner to veteran - to expose their unique creativity to a live crowd and enjoy the atmosphere of encouragement, mentoring and feedback from peers and music lovers alike.

If you’d like to ensure a place on the stage, email us at dean@northernramble.com in advance of the Thursday on which you’d like to perform, and we’ll add your name to the list for that evening. You can also sign up on the evening of, but preference will be given to those who offer advance notice via email. Each performer will be asked to keep their performance to 1-3 songs [no covers]. The venue will limit the evening to approximately 2 hours shows [approx. 6 performers/evening], with some flexibility according to turnout etc.

Whether you’ve just written your first songs or are a seasoned veteran looking for an ideal venue to try your latest inspirations, this stage will welcome you!

A favorite at the Northern Ramble returns Saturday, July 29, at 8 pm! Doors open at 7 pm.

The Ramblin' Valley Band has been cooking up flavorful jams mixing blues, country, bluegrass and rock and roll into one sweet spread. For over 2 years the band has been sharing their talents with Ottawa music lovers, and have been received with dancing, singing, hootin' and hollering all along the way. When you watch the RVB you're going to see a versatile band that can jump genres seamlessly, trade instruments with ease, and works together to highlight each member as a part of a mighty groovin' machine.

Thunder & Spit & Harmonious Clatter. A multi-instrumental trio blending blues, bluegrass, and Americana folk, Old Man Grant are a northern take on a southern sound. Hailing from Ottawa, Ontario - a humid town built on wetlands - and inspired by the dark tone and inner turmoil of the southern gothic, this Canadian group has come up with a unique style at times called the "Bytown Swamp Stomp”.

Since summer 2016, the group has completed their "Why Not" tour of the Canadian East Coast, and their "Dead of Winter" tour of Southern Ontario. Aside from their favourite living rooms and dive bars, Old Man Grant has been bringing their rhythmic, expressive playing and soaring three-part harmonies to such notable stages as Toronto's Horseshoe and Dakota Taverns, Wakefield's Blacksheep Inn, Ottawa’s CityFolk and Marvest festivals, and official showcases at the Folk Music Ontario and Canadian Music Week conferences. Upcoming shows include Ottawa’s Bluesfest, Pelee Island’s "Island Unplugged" festival, and an "NAC Presents” showcase this fall.

This summer, Old Man Grant is looking forward to connecting with audiences both familiar and strange as they travel coast to coast, placing the songs off their upcoming album through trial-by-fire.

Over the course of 13 albums, Ottawa-area singer-songwriter Brock Zeman has built a reputation as a writer of great depth and passion, through his thoughtful, often personal songs. But he’s got a rough, rockin’ side as well. Joined on relentless tours across Western Canada and down to Texas and back by his ever present collaborator, Blair Hogan, Zeman can put on a powerful show that has attendees rocking as much as feeling the stories that he tells in song. He could easily be the bastard son of Lucinda Williams and Steve Earle, with a gravelly Tom Waits voice.

Dean Batstone hosts the Songwriter’s Showcase welcoming Campbell Woods for an evening of songs and stories July 21, at 8 pm. Doors open at 7 pm.

Campbell pays attention. He’s been doing it for years in the bars of the Ottawa Valley, festivals and halls across Eastern Ontario, the whole map of Halifax music venues: The Carleton, The Company House, Gus’ Pub etc…plus sitting in and jamming with and opening for friends from across Canada. He sings and plays guitar, most of the time he can cover bass and keys, too.

His record, Oxford Street, testifies to a sound that is contemporary while evoking the weathered qualities of his many homes (the Fundy Shore, Lanark County, downtown Halifax, Ottawa, Victoria).

His songs are all about attention paid and stories revealed. They are his stories and his songs, but an evening with Campbell Woods is an invitation to be reminded of your stories, our stories, and how they all echo around the room when truth is told.

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:

Following the philosophy of the venue, The Northern Ramble open stage is focused on the encouragement and forwarding of the art and joy of songwriting. Offering a professional listening room environment to songwriter’s of all levels - beginner to veteran - to expose their unique creativity to a live crowd and enjoy the atmosphere of encouragement, mentoring and feedback from peers and music lovers alike.

If you’d like to ensure a place on the stage, email us at dean@northernramble.com in advance of the Thursday on which you’d like to perform, and we’ll add your name to the list for that evening. You can also sign up on the evening of, but preference will be given to those who offer advance notice via email. Each performer will be asked to keep their performance to 1-3 songs [no covers]. The venue will limit the evening to approximately 2 hours shows [approx. 6 performers/evening], with some flexibility according to turnout etc.

Whether you’ve just written your first songs or are a seasoned veteran looking for an ideal venue to try your latest inspirations, this stage will welcome you!

Join Dean in welcoming back to the Ramble Lynn Miles, for another night of the Songwriters Showcase on Friday, July 14, 2017, at 8 pm. Doors open at 7 pm.

One of Canada’s most accomplished singer/songwriters Lynn Miles. With twelve albums to her credit, the winner of multiple Canadian Folk Music Awards (2011 English Songwriter of the Year), and a 2003 Juno Award for Roots and Traditional Solo Album of the Year, she has certainly found her strength over time.

SOUNDCHECK WITH MEGA MIKE & DR DAVE

In Association with Cogeco TV

MONDAY JULY 10TH, DOORS 6:30PM - MUSIC 7PM

LIVE from Batstone's Northern Ramble...which is a Monthly LIVE Online Radio (www.rbxradio.com) Broadcast Event held on the 2nd Monday of Every Month...

Episode 003

Lynne Hanson is known for her hard-living style of music, mixing gritty ballads with driving roots-tinged guitar. Her deep bluesy croon is pure and full of fortitude, and she's drawn comparisons to Lucinda Williams, with a touch of Gillian Welch thrown in.

In her brand new release Uneven Ground (April 2017), produced by Winnipeg’s Scott Nolan, she explores the realm of giving sound advice through songwriting and fighting back against the devil within us. With a liberal amount of Texas grit and a polished Nashville sensibility, it would be easy to assume the Canadian songwriter came from the southern USA. The songs are brimming over with imagery and cleverly penned lyrics and fall into the next generation of roots and blues music while still respecting traditions.

Willow Sound Records is a membership co-op focused on empowering artists through coaching and community. Offering full development services for every level of artist, Willow Sound, together with its members and network of service providers, works in partnership with the artist providing the guidance they need to...

Dean Batstone hosts the Songwriter’s Showcase welcoming Taylor Angus for an evening of songs and stories July 7 2017, at 8 pm. Doors open at 7 pm.

As passionate about their music as they are of each other, Indie-Jazz duo Taylor Angus crafts a dynamic sound that belies the limited instrumentation found in their music.

Using Taylor’s name as the moniker for their musical project, multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Taylor Angus partnered with finger-style guitarist and songwriter Logan Brown in the Summer of 2015 and started playing regularly throughout Ontario. Heavily influenced by big band jazz and folk songwriting the two have crafted an instantaneously recognizable sound with soaring vocal harmonies, Buckingham-esque guitar playing, and unique melodic structure to their music.

As solo artists both had success in their respective scenes; Taylor playing Ottawa City Folk and Bluesfest and recording a demo with legendary producer Thom Panunzio at Interscope Studio’s in Los Angeles, and Logan winning multiple guitar and songwriting awards across Ontario. Together they garnered the attention of the Canadian Music Industry and, upon obtaining a management deal, headed into the studio to record their debut EP. After a few months with their management company, the couple decided it was best to sever their contract and head out into the world as unsigned artists. Upon completion, the now titled record “First Light Of Dawn” was released independently quickly gained the duo a following around North America being offered shows across Canada and in the US, they were even offered a tour with keyboard pioneer and international recording artist Howard Jones. Currently residing in Kingston, the two have their eyes set on a big future, including; a tour in southern Ontario and the east coast, the completion of a brand new record, and their wedding.

Seamlessly blending the music of yesterday with a modern twist, Taylor Angus is an unstoppable duo on the rise.

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:

Following the philosophy of the venue, The Northern Ramble open stage is focused on the encouragement and forwarding of the art and joy of songwriting. Offering a professional listening room environment to songwriter’s of all levels - beginner to veteran - to expose their unique creativity to a live crowd and enjoy the atmosphere of encouragement, mentoring and feedback from peers and music lovers alike.

If you’d like to ensure a place on the stage, email us at dean@northernramble.com in advance of the Thursday on which you’d like to perform, and we’ll add your name to the list for that evening. You can also sign up on the evening of, but preference will be given to those who offer advance notice via email. Each performer will be asked to keep their performance to 1-3 songs [no covers]. The venue will limit the evening to approximately 2 hours shows [approx. 6 performers/evening], with some flexibility according to turnout etc.

Whether you’ve just written your first songs or are a seasoned veteran looking for an ideal venue to try your latest inspirations, this stage will welcome you!

JOHN ALLAIRE

John Allaire is an experienced, award-winning singer/songwriter with a gift for weaving captivating musical stories. Drawing on his experiences and surroundings John’s musical repertoire includes songs with sincere, intelligent lyrics that are introspective and deeply personal, as well as tunes that are light-hearted and humorous.

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:

A favorite at the Northern Ramble returns Saturday June 24, 2017 at 8pm! Doors open at 7pm.

Winner of 106.9 The Bear's Rock Search; $100,000 in NEWCAP Radio's Big Money Shot; Indie Pop Album of the Year with his band Garrity, North Easton is an accomplished performer and award-winning Canadian songwriter with an aptitude for writing evocative, thought-provoking lyrics and melodies. This, coupled with his powerful, heartfelt vocals, delivers a listening and visual experience that is uniquely North Easton. North released his first solo album “One of the Lucky Ones” to an enthusiastic full house in Ottawa. As his first single “Change” builds momentum on AC radio, North looks to the road and to performing at festivals and eclectic venues across the country - all the while, igniting his audiences along the path.